NIC men's and women's basketball teams wrap up postseason

North Idaho College’s men’s and women’s basketball teams wrapped up their postseasons at home, as NIC hosted the Scenic West Athletic Conference Region 18 Basketball Tournament March 8-11.

The No. 2-ranked men’s team earned a first round bye in the tournament and faced No. 3 Dixie State College of Utah in the second round. Dixie State won 84-66. Dixie State lost 72-69 to the No. 1 seed College of Southern Idaho in the championship game, earning CSI a berth to the National Junior College Athletic Association tournament in Hutchinson, Kan., March 21-25.

The No. 1-ranked women’s basketball team earned a first round bye in the tournament. The Cardinals went on to face No. 4 Dixie State, winning 78-69 and advancing to the championship game against No. 3-seeded Salt Lake Community College. Salt Lake beat NIC 75-59 in the championship match, advancing to the NJCAA tournament March 21-25 in Salina, Kan.

The men’s basketball team finished the season 23-8. The women’s team finished 24-7.

Several NIC women’s basketball players received regional honors following the tournament. Sarah Dennehy, a sophomore wing from Kirkland, Wash., was named to the All-Region 18 first team and the NJCAA Region 18 All-Tournament team. Caitlin Courchaine, a sophomore guard from Spokane, Wash., was named to the NJCAA Region 18 All-Tournament team as well as the All-Region 18 second team. Stephanie Jones, a starting point guard from Gallup, N.M., and Lindsey Koppen, a starting forward from Missoula, Mont., were named to the NJCAA All-Region 18 second team. NIC Head Women’s Basketball Coach Chris Carlson was named Region 18 Coach of the Year.